John Cage’s composition 4’33” (1952) is a polarising work of modern art. Inspired by Zen Buddhism, the Dada movement and Cage’s strong distaste for the ubiquitous muzak of the time, its score instructs performers not to play their instruments for the piece’s four-minute, thirty-three-second duration. Often thought of as ‘silent’, in reality, 4’33” is comprised of the unique ambient soundscape of the environment in which it’s performed, reflecting Cage’s belief that music is ever-present. Compiled by the New York-based artist Sam Vladimirsky at a moment when background sounds have never been so inescapable, this collaborative, crowdsourced performance of 4’33” features professionals, amateurs and even digital avatars from around the world putting their own spin on Cage’s infamous composition.
Director: Sam Vladimirsky
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Progress and modernity
Moving from Tibet to Beijing, Drolma reconciles big dreams with harsh realities
31 minutes
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Mathematics
Spiral into the ‘golden ratio’ – and separate the myths from the maths
4 minutes
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Art
A young Rockefeller collects art on a fateful journey to New Guinea
7 minutes
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Architecture
A lush tour of Fallingwater – the Frank Lloyd Wright design that changed architecture
14 minutes
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Art
Defying classification, fantastical artworks reframe the racism of Carl Linnaeus
8 minutes
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Film and visual culture
Space and time expand, contract and combust in this propulsive animation
5 minutes
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Gender
A catchy tune explains the world’s ‘isms’ – according to your mum doing the laundry
5 minutes
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Art
When East met West in the images of an overlooked, original photographer
9 minutes
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Earth science and climate
Images carved into film form a haunting elegy for a disappearing slice of Earth
3 minutes